New leak exposes a trove of personal passwords and sensitive info (Mashable): News over the weekend suggests that a recent leak could be one of the most devastating in recent memory. The report says that Cloudflare, one of the biggest websites for internet security, was the victim of a hack. Unfortunately, according to the article, the extent of the damage is unknown, but it recommended that people should start changing passwords on a multitude of sites immediately. A quote in the report from a member of Google’s security team is telling of the nature of the breach: a”The examples we’re finding are so bad … I’m finding private messages from major dating sites, full messages from a well-known chat service, online password manager data, frames from adult video sites, hotel bookings . . .We’re talking full https requests, client IP addresses, full responses, cookies, passwords, keys, data, everything.” The article can be read in its entirety here.

The cybersecurity side of cryptocurrency (CSO): Bitcoin isn’t the only online currency, and it isn’t all good news. A recent article discussed how regulators, as they often are, are lagging behind when it comes to blockchain technology and online currency and that significant vulnerabilities exist as a result. The piece first explains that new “altcoins,” an abbreviation for bitcoin alternatives, are being developed and used every day. The online currency market is now valued at $13 billion, the article said. But it’s not all good, as these have created a unique opportunity for ransomware attacks. The article also explained that they have become an easy way for criminals to launder their money. The full article can be read here.

Governors put spotlight on cybersecurity (The Hill): Cyber security remained a political hot topic over the weekend, this time being touted as crucial by numerous state governors. While cyber security policy often gets attention at the federal level, an article said that governors were stressing how important it is for states, too. VA Gov. Terry McAuliffe said that his state alone was targeted by 86 million cyber attacks last year. The event Saturday was one of two focusing on cyber security during the National Governors Association winter meetings. McAuliffe, like many others, has emphasized the need for public-private partnerships, including one he established between Virginia and Amazon to create a stronger cyber workforce. The full piece can be found here.

Professor William Snyder

Ryan D. White

Ryan is currently a third year law student at Syracuse University College of Law, and is also pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Ryan spent time with Homeland Security Investigations while pursuing his undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University, and spent his first summer of law school as clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York. He is a member of Syracuse Law Review, the Journal on Terrorism and Security Analysis, and participates in the Veteran’s Legal Clinic.

Christopher W. Folk

is a 2017 graduate of SU College of Law. A non-traditional student, Christopher returned to academia after spending nearly twenty years in the high tech industry. Christopher served in the Marine Corps, graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. In Applied Economics and Business Management, attended Northeastern University’s High-Tech MBA Program and received a M.S. In Computer Information Systems. Christopher previously worked in Software Engineering. Christopher is currently serving his second term as Town Justice for the Town of Waterloo. Christopher externed with a Cybersecurity firm in the Washington, D.C. area between his first and second year at SU College of Law.

Anna Maria Castillo

is 2016 graduate of Syracuse College of Law. She also holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She has interned at a London-based think-tank that specializes in transnational terrorism and global security and at the legal department of a defense contractor. She served as an executive editor in the Syracuse Law Review.

Jennifer A. Camillo

is a 2015 graduate of Syracuse College of Law and is a prosecutor. She has served as a law clerk in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office and as an extern in the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office. She was a member of the Syracuse National Trial Team and was awarded the Tiffany Cup by the New York Bar Association for her trial advocacy achievements.

Tara J. Pistorese

holds Juris Doctor and Masters of Public Administration degrees from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and its College of Law. She wrote for this blog when a student. She is now a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.

Benjamin Zaiser

is both a scholar and a Federal Agent of the Federal Criminal Police Office of Germany. (Opinions expressed here are his own and not any part of official duty.)